NPR News: 06-05-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – June 5, 2025

Updated at 3 AM EDT

---

US Immigration: Migrants Deported to El Salvador Face Legal Hurdles

Timestamp: [00:14]

A pivotal development in U.S. immigration law unfolded as a federal judge issued a stern directive to the Trump administration. US District Court Judge James Boasberg has granted the administration one week to devise a method for over 100 migrants deported to El Salvador to contest their removals. This decision challenges the application of an 18th-century law under which these deportations were executed.

Timestamp: [00:37]

Judge Boasberg emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “there's significant evidence that many of the migrants are not members of a Venezuela gang as alleged and quote, thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous accusations.” He underscored that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld migrants' rights to challenge their deportation, thereby mandating the government to rectify the injustices faced by these individuals. The Trump administration, previously critical of Boasberg's rulings, has yet to comment on this latest decision.

---

US-Russia Relations Amidst Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: [01:16]

In international diplomacy, President Donald Trump engaged in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House announced that both leaders discussed Russia’s strong stance in response to Ukraine's recent drone attacks on Russian airfields, which reportedly compromised a significant portion of Russia's long-range airborne nuclear fleet.

Trump characterized the dialogue as “a good conversation,” while clarifying that it did not pave the way for a peace treaty. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group via video call, advocating for enhanced air defense systems and increased weaponry to pressure Moscow into meaningful peace negotiations.

Timestamp: [01:55]

A Ukrainian official highlighted the nation's strategy: “We have no doubt that we can push Russia toward peace, but for that we must continue to pressure Moscow with all available tools and step by step make its aggression meaningless.” This statement underscores Ukraine's commitment to leveraging all possible measures to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.

---

International Critique of Israeli Leadership

Timestamp: [02:07]

In a striking editorial for the French newspaper Le Monde, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert leveled severe accusations against current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Olmert condemned Netanyahu's military actions as a "criminal personal war," responsible for precipitating a "humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza." He further criticized Netanyahu for portraying himself as a victim when facing accusations of anti-Semitism from European nations critical of his government's policies.

Olmert asserted, “the EU is threatening to revise an association deal with Israel,” warning of “many disastrous economic and diplomatic consequences for Israel” unless the nation ceases its military actions and seeks reconciliation within the international community. He praised French President Emmanuel Macron, stating, “he is no anti-Semite,” emphasizing the stark contrast between Macron's leadership and Netanyahu's approach.

---

Public Health Initiative: Wastewater Testing for Measles

Timestamp: [03:08]

In a proactive public health measure, a nationwide surveillance program is now testing wastewater for traces of measles across 40 U.S. states. Maria Godoy of NPR reports that this initiative aims to empower health officials to identify potential outbreaks before they escalate.

Timestamp: [03:30]

Marlene Wolf, co-director of the WasteWaterScan program at Emory University, explained, “The testing is being conducted by WasteWaterScan, a program that provides a real-time look at circulating pathogens based on testing wastewater samples from around the United States.” The program, which already monitors viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, has integrated measles detection in response to a notable rise in cases this year.

Timestamp: [03:54]

Wolf further added, “If we detect it with an increasing frequency so more and more of the samples in a row are positive, that would be something that we would look at as a potential sign of an outbreak.” The WasteWaterScan measles data will be publicly accessible starting this week, offering transparency and timely information to the public.

---

Legislative Changes: Tax Cuts and Healthcare Implications

Timestamp: [04:10]

President Trump is vigorously advocating for a new bill anticipated to deliver trillions in tax cuts and significant reductions in government spending. However, according to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation could result in a $2.4 trillion increase in the national deficit. Additionally, the bill poses the risk of leaving approximately 10.9 million Americans without healthcare coverage.

The proposed tax reforms and spending cuts are part of Trump's broader economic strategy, though they come with substantial fiscal and social implications that have sparked debate among policymakers and the public alike.

---

Environmental Concern: Fuel Spill in Baltimore

Timestamp: [04:10]

An environmental incident occurred in Baltimore's Inner Harbor as the U.S. Coast Guard, alongside other emergency response teams, addressed a fuel spill on Wednesday. Johns Hopkins University reported that the spill involved around 100 gallons of water contaminated by dye-laced fuel used for generators. The spill was attributed to accidental discharge by a vendor during a routine delivery, resulting in the discoloration of the nearby water with red dye from the fuel.

Efforts to mitigate the spill are ongoing, with authorities monitoring the impact on local ecosystems and water quality.

---

Note: Advertisements and promotional content were excluded to maintain focus on the newsworthy segments.

Transcript

[Capital One Representative]

This message comes from Capital One. Access comprehensive solutions from a top commercial bank that prioritizes your needs today and goals for tomorrow. Learn [e-mail] commercial member FDIC.

[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. A federal judge is giving the Trump administration one week to figure out how more than 100 migrants who were sent to El Salvador in a prison there can challenge their deportations. As NPR's Tovia Smith reports, the judge says the migrants should have had that chance before they were removed from the US under an 18th century law.

[Tovia Smith]

US District Court Judge James Boasberg wrote, there's significant evidence that many of the migrants are not members of a Venezuela gang as alleged and, quote, thus languish in a foreign prison on flimsy, even frivolous accusations. The U.S. supreme Court has affirmed migrants rights to challenge their removal and Boasberg says it's now up to the government to figure out how to make good the wrong done and grant the migrants due process, even as the government says they're officially in the custody of El Salvador. The Trump administration had no immediate comment, but has previously called Boasberg's rulings an egregious abuse of the bench. Tovia Smith, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone on Wednesday. The White House said Putin and Russia had very strongly that. Putin said Russia will very strongly respond to Ukraine's weekend drone attack on Russian airfields that reportedly destroyed or damaged much of Russia's long range airborne nuclear fleet. Trump described the call as a good conversation, but not one he said that will lead to a peace treaty. In a video call with the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, Ukraine's President Zelensky said his country needs to push for more air defenses and weaponry to push Moscow towards real peace talks.

[Ukrainian Official]

We have no doubt that we can push Russia toward peace, but for that we must continue to pressure Moscow with all available tools and step by step make its aggression meaningless.

[Dan Ronan]

Ukraine said the daring attack delivered a heavy blow to Russia's air force and military prestige. In an editorial in a French newspaper, the former Israeli prime minister says Israel is committing war crimes.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, writing in French newspaper Le Monde, Olmert called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war a criminal personal war that has provoked a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Olmert said Netanyahu's government is the real enemy from within. He also accused Netanyahu of playing the victim when he accuses European nations that criticize his government of anti Semitism. I know French President Emmanuel Macron and he is no anti Semite, wrote Olmert. The EU is threatening to revise an association deal with Israel. Olmert warned there will be many disastrous economic and diplomatic consequences for Israel and if it does not end the war and rejoin the family of nations. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Dan Ronan]

In Washington, stocks were mixed and this is NPR News. A nationwide surveillance program is testing wastewater for evidence of measles in 40 U.S. states. NPR's Maria Godoy reports. Scientists hope the testing will boost public health officials in the ability to spot measles cases before an outbreak occurs.

[Marlene Wolf]

The testing is being conducted by WasteWaterScan, a program that provides a real time look at circulating pathogens based on testing wastewater samples from around the United States. The program already tracks viruses, including Covid flu and rsv. Program co director Marlene Wolf of Emory University says with the US Seeing a sharp increase in measles cases this year, it makes sense to add the virus to its monitoring program.

[Maria Godoy]

If we detect it with an increasing frequency so more and more of the samples in a row are positive, that would be something that we would look at as a potential sign of an outbreak.

[Marlene Wolf]

Wastewater scans measles data is public available as of this week. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

President Trump's big push for a bill is likely to unleash trillions of dollars in tax cuts and slash spending, but it could spike the deficit by $2.4 billion and leave 10.9 million Americans without health care, according to the Congressional budget office. The U.S. coast Guard and other emergency response teams are cleaning up a fuel spill in Baltimore in the Inner harbor area that took place on Wednesday. Now Johns Hopkins University says D used for generators accidentally spilled by a vendor during a routine delivery and the fuel got into the nearby water. It was about 100 gallons of water. The water was red because of the dye from the fuel. This is NPR News support for npr.

[Capital One Representative]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less. And all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for [e-mail] Switch.